Medical Education (MSc)

Why study this course

This MSc in Medical Education is an e-learning course, offering a build-up of study credit via a three-stage, progressive course delivered online.

The MSc in Medical Education programme is committed to promoting excellence in learning and teaching for health professionals. It is for all medical, dental and other health professionals who aim to professionalise the role of the clinician as teacher.

This part-time programme, taught entirely online, leads to the award of an MSc in Medical Education. It is the final stage of a three-stage, progressive course.

Admission to this programme requires successful completion of the PG Certificate (stage 1) and Diploma (stage 2) in Medical Education. The MSc component will involve the completion of a small scale empirical or literature based study culminating in the submission of a dissertation. Many of the projects provide the basis for practical innovations in the workplace and can also extend engagement with and contribution to the wider medical education community

Distinctive features

The programme is accredited by the Higher Education Academy, conferring Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy upon successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education and evidence of engagement with the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF)

Accredited by the Academy of Medical Educators (AoME) and aligned to GMC Trainer criteria

Opportunity to study alongside healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds to promote understanding and sharing of good practice

Support from an academic team of dedicated educationalists, active in professional associations who have a breadth of experience both nationally and internationally

Course design and delivery emphasising principles and application through interactive discussion and activities in an online environment

Many years of experience of running medical educational courses in the UK and Internationally

Positioned within the School of Medicine we are well placed to support the education and training of clinicians and clinical educators

Admissions criteria

In addition to fulfilling the University entrance requirements for study at Postgraduate level; you will need to demonstrate your interest/involvement in learning and teaching in health care contexts.

Successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma stage of the programme is a prerequisite for the MSc stage.

The course is suitable for all health professionals who have teaching, assessment and related educational responsibilities, such as teachers, trainers, educational supervisors, course co-ordinators, clinical and college tutors.

Applicants should also hold an initial degree from an approved University, or other qualification/proof of educational ability.

If English is not your first language, please provide evidence of your English language qualifications to fulfil the University’s English language requirements.

Application deadline: Applications are closed once the course is full.

Criminal convictions

You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.

If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:

access to computers or devices that can store images

use of internet and communication tools/devices

curfews

freedom of movement

contact with people related to Cardiff University.

Course structure

The MSc year (stage three) follows on from successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate year (stage one) and the Postgraduate Diploma year (stage two). The programme is delivered entirely online and you will be required to engage with online learning materials within tutor-facilitated groups and with your dissertation supervisor throughout the academic year (October to June). There is no requirement to attend, as all teaching will be delivered via e-learning.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2020/21 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2020.

Year two

All modules in both the Postgraduate Certificate Programme (year one) and the Postgraduate Diploma Programme (year two) must be successfully completed before progressing to year three (MSc year).

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Learning and assessment

How will I be taught?

The teaching takes place online in group settings, which are facilitated by online tutors. There are a variety of tasks in the dissertation module where there is the opportunity for discussion, debate, exploration and peer interaction designed to enhance learning in addition to guided and independent study. The online tutor plays a key role in the delivery of teaching for the module.

Opportunities to develop your team working and collaboration skills will be available through your tasks and activities within discussion fora and general engagement in debate and exploration with tutors and peers.

How will I be assessed?

The MSc component will require the completion of a small scale empirical or literature based study culminating in the submission of a dissertation.

How will I be supported?

You will be allocated a dissertation supervisor who will support your progress on the course, monitoring your general progress, discussing relevant issues and providing advice, guidance and support.

During the dissertation component you will have an opportunity to receive feedback on the project design and draft dissertation chapters.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The overall aims of the course are to help you:

Critically appraise both your own and others’ practice as clinical educators and educational leaders to enhance learning and teaching relationships with colleagues/trainees.

Synthesise concepts in order to further enhance knowledge and understanding to initiate educational developments responsive to clinical education needs and challenges.

Develop an ability to engage with research, scholarship and practice and deal with complexities, contradictions and gaps in the current evidence base.

Develop the knowledge and skills needed to be an educational evaluator in clinical contexts.

Develop the knowledge required to design, implement and evaluate an educational event with coherence, integration and relevance.

Provide an understanding of the philosophical orientations of educational research and a range of research methodologies to enable the selection and utilisation of appropriate strategies to design and conduct educational research.

Tuition fees

UK and EU students (2020/21)

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

EU students entering in 2020/21 will pay the same tuition fee as UK students for the duration of their course. Please be aware that fees may increase annually in line with inflation. No decisions regarding fees and loans for EU students starting in 2020/21 have been made yet. These will be determined as part of the UK's discussions on its membership of the EU and we will provide further details as soon as we can.

Students from outside the EU (2020/21)

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

Additional costs

Will I need any specific equipment to study this course/programme?

You will need to be able to access the internet on a regular basis in order to engage with your programme.

Career prospects

Professionals have joined the course from around the world. Many graduates use the insights gained on the course to introduce innovations to their day to day teaching, whilst others go on to higher level roles and responsibilities to lead and promote excellence in learning and teaching at national and international levels.

Here’s what some of our graduates have to say about how they have benefitted professionally from studying this course…

“I couldn’t recommend the course at Cardiff University more highly to help you achieve your educational and research goals. I now sit on the National Intern Curriculum Development Board, using all the skills I have learned on the MSc programme.” Mark Hohenberg, Physician, Care of the Elderly

“I would highly recommend the degree to other colleagues, especially as the regulations for becoming a medical educator are going to become much tighter.” Aenone Harper

“The course balanced theory and research with practical elements that I could incorporate into my daily teaching.”Victoria Tippet